Well folks, the official race to legitimize Condi and Rudi for ‘08 has begun, and I have a sinking sucpicion this could be the death knell of the pro-life lock on the GOP. Some may say I am a pessimist or bitter or whatever but just read Ruffini’s post and see if you don’t come out with chills like I did.

There’s no doubt that there a significant number of primary voters, perhaps 15-20%, who are motivated primarily by the life issue. But that doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily be able to swing anything — not so long as the movement’s idea of a standard-bearer is Alan Keyes or Gary Bauer. The fact is that there are at least as many Republicans who object to McCain on political grounds as do to Rudy and Condi on ideological grounds. Probably the best hope for a pro-life nominee is for someone now at 5% or below to surge — and that’s asking for a lot in notoriously insurgent-averse Republican politics.

Unless there are decisions made by the conservatives to unite behind ONE candidate against a Condi/Giulani/McCain candidacy then this show is over and Giulani most likely will be the nominee, which would be a totally unmitigated disaster for the GOP, because Giulani is liberal on issue after issue not just social issues. He’s bad on taxes, he’s bad on spending, and the only thing he’s good on is defense. But due to the total political impotence of the pro-life movement, who every year rally around a whacko, and the disorganization of the conservative right then things are not too good. Now if the Club and others get together in a dark room and pick someone and come out gunning then I will feel better about ‘08 but not until then. Call me a pessimist, I say its sad realism.